Do cue racks warp cues?
- Thread starter ktrepal85
- Start date
Why would I have an outdoor cue rack? lol
If the rack is against an outside wall, the change in temperature may cause warping. I would suggest mounting your rack on an "inside" wall to avoid this. (I speak from experience
)I have had no issues leaving cues inj my cue rack now that it's placed correctly.
Dave
I was thinking of a garage rack, (or as mentioned above) any other place that does not have consistent temp and humidity
If you have nice two piece cues, store then in a case upright and away from any outsyde wall. I have two beautiful racks but only keep cheap house cues in one, or a couple break cues. The other rack is empty.
All my good cues arestored in Ron Thomas or Whitten cases. Actually one is in a Justis.
All my good cues arestored in Ron Thomas or Whitten cases. Actually one is in a Justis.
They both are . Extreme conditions are bad for the wood .
Yes. But weather notwithstanding, the way to keep a cue from warping is to have it supported ON ALL SIDES. That means a case with individual SNUG tubes, or laying the cue flat on a soft bedding which will support the length of the cue(not a hard bedding or table because the shaft taper is parabolic(I think I'm using the right term).
In any case the point is, allowing a cue to stand in a cue rack will eventually warp the stick on it's own weight. Not only that, cues stand slightly tilted in a cue rack, exacerbating the issue.
And cues stored for long periods should be regularly rotated.
In any case the point is, allowing a cue to stand in a cue rack will eventually warp the stick on it's own weight. Not only that, cues stand slightly tilted in a cue rack, exacerbating the issue.
And cues stored for long periods should be regularly rotated.
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I have never had a problem with my cues in a wall rack. I have about 36 cues on a outside wall in my pool room, they have been there for 20 years. I live in an area where it is cold for seven months of the year and four of those months are very cold.
I do have well insulated walls and radiant heat in the floors and our climate is mostly dry. I have cues that are anywhere from 115 years old to new cues and none have ever changed.
Maybe I have just gotten lucky
.
I do have well insulated walls and radiant heat in the floors and our climate is mostly dry. I have cues that are anywhere from 115 years old to new cues and none have ever changed.
Maybe I have just gotten lucky
.
I agree with Joey. Heat and humidity are both problems.
For the short answer, I've had a set of Dufferin's on a wall rack for 20 years. They were straight when I got them and they are still straight today. It is in a climate controlled house, no direct sunlight on the cues.
For the long answer, if a cue is properly built from properly acclimated and dried wood, chances are it will stay straight. You never know but you really can't blame the cue maker if they don't. The reasons why are many. Some wood is not stacked and dried properly in the first place, which creates stress in the wood. Or imagine lumber stock hanging over the back of a freight truck, unsupported, bouncing up and down for 2000 miles in freezing climate. Stress points are a weakness in the wood at a cellular level. Just as a yard hose will tend to kink in the same spot again and again, wood can have weak spots that cause warpage. The cue maker has no real way of knowing that. Maybe if they take their time, the cue will warp in the shop and they can toss it out before it gets sold. Some cue makers take many months even a year to cut down their shafts. This is a great way of weeding out the stuff that's going to warp.
Wood that is prone to warp will show it with heat and humidity. Imagine a wet sponge, a perfect rectangular cube when soaked with water. Now let it dry out and - what happened? It's warped, twisted and shriveled, no longer recognizable. The cells have all dried out and the true acclimated shape has emerged.
OK, sorry you asked???
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Wood does not shrink or swell in use or storage except if its MC (moisture content) changes. Its MC changes when the RH (relative humidity) changes. Temperature alone does not cause any significant size change in wood. Heating does cause moisture changes to occur faster I.E. Kiln dry. If your cue is stored where the temperature is comfortable for humans just keep your eye on the humidity. It should be kept as close to 45%-50% hanging it, laying it flat, are all good methods provided the RH is maintained.